It Really Doesn't Sound Like Marvel Want Another Solo Hulk Movie
Why such a lack of enthusiasm, Mr Feige?
Unsurprisingly, he confirmed that there haven't been any conversations on an R-rated MCU movie. If you were expecting one, you clearly haven't been paying attention, but it's worthwhile him confirming it, if only to stop people wondering why The Defenders won't appear on the big screen.
More surprising is his apparent reluctance to engage on the question of a Hulk stand-alone. Asked about the possibility, here's what Feige said:
"Well, those are contractual things that Im not entirely attuned to. Disney and Universal would need to come to an agreement to allow Marvel to do a stand-alone Hulk film for Disney. Whats so great, and as you just said, Ruffalo lights up any room hes in, any Twitter feed hes engaged in and any movie that hes in. Its just a great pleasure to have him in The Avengers films and as you know his next appearance will be inThor: Ragnarok, which is a whole other type of fun Hulk adventure for him that we cant wait to get started on."
The Ragnarok hype-building is inevitable and goodnews to anyone who wants more of Mark Ruffalo's take on the character, but it's hard not to read between the lines a little here.
Perhaps Feige is simply being evasive and doesn't want to give away any hints at all that there might be a possibility of a Hulk stand-alone, but it seems insincere to suggest he's not "attuned"to the contract situation.
This is the head of studio who worked so hard in advance of the Spider-Man deal that the writers were charged with writing two different scripts in case a deal could be worked out. There was an expression of familiarity between Feige and Sony, and the fact that he's working on Spider-Man: Homecoming seems to tie him inextricably from the deal.
Him expressing ignorance at the current stare of affairs - no matter how throw-away the comment - doesn't exactly fill me with confidence that they're even trying to get the conversation started. Perhaps it's one that will come after Thor: Ragnarok, when Phase 4 is being outlined (Feige is increasingly keen to say he's focused entirely on the nine films he has coming next), but it doesn't sound great.
Apparently, the deal with Universal currentlymeans Marvel can use the character in films that he's not the lead for, but not stand-alones or top-billed films. You have to wonder why they'd change that when the formula is so far working a hell of a lot better than their partnership on The Incredible Hulk, and why they'd go so willingly to the table to give Universal more money off their own back.
Perhaps this is too pessimistic? What do you think? Should Marvel be working hard on cutting a deal with Universal to make more Hulk solo films? Share your reactions below in the comments thread.